- 31 Mar 2021
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How to improve your telephone English
Would you like to be able to make phone calls in English more confidently? Here you will find some tips and useful phrases to help you improve your telephone English so that you can take any call without hesitation.
Ask your contact person to speak more slowly!
There are key phrases you can use if you have difficulty following the other person's statements. For example: „Can you slow down, please?”, “Could you speak up, please?”, “Would you repeat that, please?”, “I'm afraid I'm not with you‘. These statements help ensure that you do not experience misunderstandings.
Practise regularly!
Practise with a friend or colleague face-to-face or on the phone, even if this is just the beginning and end of conversations. You can, of course, also practise by yourself. You can use your smartphone to record your voice and check your performance.
Spell out words and verbalise numbers!
Clarify and check what the other person is saying. Use expressions like “A for America”, “B for Berlin” or questions like “Is that thirteen – one three – or thirty – three zero?”
Be polite!
Avoid using the word “want” and use modal verbs like “could” or “would” instead. This is particularly important when you are speaking with native speakers. Also say “please” and “Thank you”. Some useful expressions are “Could you email me the information, please?” or “Would you contact me as soon as possible, please?”
Memorise key phrases for better telephone English
By repeating important phrases out loud, you can get your mouth used to pronouncing them, making usage automatic. If you record your voice or ask for a friend's feedback, you can ensure that what you are saying sounds natural and easy to follow. You can also imitate good models for correct pronunciation and improve your telephone English.
Repeat important calls and create a checklist!
If you feel anxious before an important call, it is always a good idea to rehearse beforehand. Keep a checklist ready to remind you of the things you need to ask or explain.
Smile to hear better!
Smiling tricks the brain into thinking that you are happy, and this will help you to calm down and speak better telephone English. Research has shown that people can hear when you smile.
It is important to remember that everyone has, at some point, found it difficult to communicate over the phone. Familiarity and practice are what build confidence and ensure a good performance.
Of course, you can improve your telephone English with a English course at the SLA Basel improve effectively. Drop by or fill in our Online placement test to find out which English course you should take with us.